–Winners will be selected by a panel of leading media industry execs in a live, final-round event at NAB Show New York–

–Event to include interactive executive keynote from Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm, Andreessen Horowitz–

WASHINGTON, D.C.– PILOT, an innovation initiative of the National Association of Broadcasters(NAB), has selected the five finalists of the first-ever PILOT Pitch Prize Competition. Finalists will compete in a live business-plan pitch event at NAB Show New York on October 17 at 3 p.m. at the Javits Convention Center.

The new PILOT Pitch Prize is a competition in which early-age startups receive seed funding and support for their solutions that serve broadcast and digital media through operational efficiency, audience engagement, measurement, content distribution or enhanced user experience.

Finalists receive individual mentoring from angel investors at the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business leading up to their pitch. Winners will receive a $50,000 Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) contract to assist with further business development, brand recognition and market awareness, as well as the opportunity to showcase their work at the 2019 NAB Show in Las Vegas and more.

We have had a tremendous response to the PILOT Pitch Prize competition and I’m delighted with the diversity of our five finalists and their work in artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing work flows, content security, news accuracy, and Next-Gen TV,” said Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Sam Matheny. “Innovators and attendees alike will learn from and enjoy the live and engaging pitch presentations and feedback from a seasoned panel of media executive judges.”

Three winners will be chosen by a collective of judges comprising:

  • Roger Keating – Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer for Hearst Television;
  • Michele Laven – President, Strategic Partnerships Group for iHeartMedia;
  • Mike Chapman – Managing Director of Accenture Strategy;
  • Lora Dennis – Senior Vice President of Digital Media for NBC Owned Television Stations; and
  • Tim Clarke – Vice President of Content and Audience for Cox Media Group.

The PILOT Pitch Prize finalists are:

Airwavz.TV
Airwavz.tv designed the first digital TV antenna and receiver that enables smartphone users to receive live television broadcast programming directly from TV towers – even in areas without cell, internet, Wi-Fi or satellite service.

nēdl
nēdl allows radio listeners to search live audio with Speech-to-Text software and directs to a station’s live stream. nēdl is live on Amazon Alexa.

Our.News
Our.News is a non-partisan fact-checking resource that provides validated background information on news publishers and determines the public’s view of the reliability of news articles, publishers, and journalists.

PolyPort
PolyPort offers complete digital asset management, tracking, and IP protection through security and encryption algorithms for content owners.

Teamium
Teamium is a cloud-based media production management platform that provides visual collaboration and business process tools that are designed with the latest digital technologies for video production teams.

Each finalist will have a total of 10 minutes to present their pitch, including questions from the judges. Additionally, the event will feature an interactive executive keynote from Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm, Andreessen Horowitz, about their vision for the digital media space. A celebratory reception and networking event will follow the presentation of the winners. Additional information about the PILOT Pitch Prize is available here.

News media registration is available here.

About NAB Show New York
Produced by the National Association of Broadcasters, NAB Show New York will be held October 17-18, 2018 at the Javits Convention Center. With more than 14,000 attendees and 300+ exhibitors, NAB Show New York showcases the best in next-generation technology for media, entertainment and telecom professionals with conferences and workshops focused on television, film, satellite, online video, live events, podcasting, advertising, corporate A/V, production and post.

About PILOT
PILOT, formerly NAB Labs, is a coalition of innovators, educators and advocates dedicated to advancing broadcast technology and cultivating new media opportunities. PILOT propels broadcast television and radio into the future. It provides a platform for innovation, an engine for incubation, a venue for testing new technologies and a forum for broadcaster education. Learn more at www.nabpilot.org.

About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America’s broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.